Democratic Senator Chris Coons joins Republicans and Manchin in criticizing the timing of Schumer’s speech

Delaware Senator Chris Coons joined fellow Democratic Senate Joe Manchin and Republicans on Sunday in criticizing the timing of a fiery speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

In his remarks Thursday, Schumer, a Democrat from New York, attacked Republicans over a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling and avert a possible United States default.

“Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans insisted they wanted a solution to the debt ceiling, but said Democrats had to tackle it on their own through a long, convoluted and risky reconciliation process,” Schumer said.

He added: “The Republicans played a dangerous and risky partisan game, and I’m glad their trick didn’t work.”

Speaking on Fox News SundayCoons, a moderate and close ally of President Joe Biden, said that while he understood Schumer’s frustrations, he agreed with Manchin that the speech was poorly timed.

“Frankly, I agree with the reasons why Senator Schumer was so frustrated. That this debt limit standoff was risky, unnecessary, was a fabricated crisis,” he said.

He said Manchin “had his head in his hands” because he felt Senate leaders should reach out and speak directly to members, which Coons said he agreed with.

“If we are to solve the problems facing the American people, we must be able to work together,” he said.

Coons added, “Now might not have been the best.”

The speech also drew criticism from Manchin, a Democratic senator from West Virginia, who could be seen placing his hands over his face and rubbing his eyes as Schumer spoke.

Manchin told CNN chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju on Thursday: “I didn’t think this was appropriate at the moment.”

“I just think basically what we have to do is find a way forward, to make sure that we disarm. We have to disarm. You can’t play politics. None of us can. do – on both sides, ”he said.

Schumer’s remarks received backlash from Republican senators.

Utah Senator Mitt Romney said he spoke to the New York senator about the speech and told reporters Thursday that “there is a time to be gracious and there is a time to be combative, and it was a time for grace ”.

John Thune of South Dakota, one of 11 GOP senators who voted to extend the debt ceiling, said he also spoke to Schumer about the remarks.

“I thought it was totally out of place. I just thought it was an incredibly partisan speech after we helped him solve a problem,” Thune said. “I let him have it.

News week contacted Schumer’s office for comment Sunday afternoon but had not received a response by post. This story will be updated with any response.